Glace Bay artist's painting depicts shooting of William Davis

GLACE BAY — When artist John Lannon gets asked why the trees in his painting depicting the shooting of William Davis don't have any leaves he answers "That's not an accident."

Glace Bay artist John Lannon shows his painting depicting the shooting of William Davis by a member of the former British Empire Steel and Coal Company police force during a mining strike near New Waterford on June 11, 1925. Sharon Montgomery-Dupe - Cape Breton Post

The painting depicts the shooting of Davis by a member of the former British Empire Steel and Coal Company police force during a mining strike of the United Mine Workers of America near New Waterford on June 11, 1925.

"The painting is from memories of what my grandfather used to tell me about that day," Lannon said.

Lannon grew up in a coal mining family. His grandfather James Lannon, born in 1884, worked in the f mines for 50 years, beginning at age 11. Lannon’s father Edward worked in the mines for 47 years.

"My grandfather was a water boy — used to go around with a bucket of water and a dipper stick to give a drink of water to the miners when they were working."

Lannon’s grandfather was also a violinist and a bandmaster.

He said his grandfather recalled the strike in the mines as desperate times. Families starved after the stores were burned down and water and electricity in the town was shut off.

"They were beating up the miners and shooting them, so they called in the army."

"My grandfather had relations over there at the time and said some of the people connected with the mines ran from the town through the woods into the Gardiner to their homes in Glace Bay."

Lannon said although his grandfather died in 1969, his words on that day stayed with him forever. About 15 years ago, Lannon created the painting, which he hung in his house.

"A few people saw it and word got around."

He said Bobby Burchell, president of the local chapter of the United Mine Workers of America, bought the painting two years ago.

Lannon said art has always been part of his life. He was only seven years old when he started doing sketches, and as he grew older he moved to watercolours and eventually to oil painting.

"I never trained anywhere. I made a shop in the backyard."

Lannon, a self-employed sign painter, made his own canvasses and for many years kept everything he did.

"I just painted and stored them," he said.

He said there was a reason behind every piece.

"A great painter moves people," he said.

"I paint to leave a message to the world."

He said many years ago he held a show at the old Glace Bay Library and was a featured artist at an art show at Cape Breton University in 2011.

He has taken part in an international art competition in Harrison, N.Y., and has been nominated for the Manning Awards in Alberta several times.

Burchell donated it to the Cape Breton Miners' Museum so everyone could enjoy it. He also had prints made and framed.

“I gave all the guest speakers at the Davis Day ceremony last year, and the Davis family, a framed print of it.”

Glace Bay artist John Lannon shows his painting depicting the shooting of William Davis by a member of the former British Empire Steel and Coal Company police force during a mining strike near New Waterford on June 11, 1925. Sharon Montgomery-Dupe - Cape Breton Post